Flush valve operating arrangement



Sept. 30, 1952 J. J. FILLIUNG 2,612,179

FLUSH VALVE OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 9, 1949 ya/LL),

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 FLUSH VALVE OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Jacques J. Filliung, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 9, 1949, Serial No.'98,075

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates ingeneral to plumbing installations, but more particularly to the arrangement and installation of electric devices for automatically operating flush valves, and the principal object, of the invention is to provide a new and improved mounting arrangement for an electric flush valve operating device. a

A further object is to provide a new and improved mounting arrangement for an electric device mounted on a fiush valve in which the enclosing casing is readily removable to expose the electric device for inspection and lubrication without removing the same from its support on the flush valve and without disturbing the electrical connections to the device,

Another object is to provide an enclosing casing for an electric device which is arranged to protect the same and tend to lessen attempts of malicious persons to tamper with the device.

A still further object is to provide a slotted portion on the enclosin casing for an electrical device which is adapted to engage an electric conduit so that any slight variations in the location of the conduit are readily compensated for when the conduit connection is made.

Other objects, novel features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description which taken together with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred em bodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a front. elevation of a flush valve installation together with the associated electric operating device;

Fig. '2 is a top view of Fig. l, but with the enclosing casing of theelectric device shown laterally removed from the device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the electric device showing the conduit connection, while Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover plate the casing.

Referring specifically to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference character 5 indicates a conventional flush valve of the piston type hydraulically operating to discharge a measured quantity of water into a plumbingfixture with which it is associated. A throttle or stop 6 is connected on the inlet side of the flush valve and both are usually arranged adjacent a wall surface I behind which the inlet water supply piping 8 is arranged. The water pipe 8 has a branch which extends through the wall surface I to connect with the throttle 6 while the outlet end 9 of theflush' valve may dis- 2 charge the water into a plumbing fixture such as a urinal, not shown.

Flush valves such as shown are usually provided with an operating handle for manually controlling The motor operator In is rigidly supported in.

position upon the flush valve 5 by means of the hollow coupling member 15 and coupling nut [6, the coupling. member [5 being screwed into the front bracket of the motor side frames IT, as shown. The motor operator includes the coil winding I8 andassociated core which upon energization drives a train of gears I9 journalled in the side frames H. The final gear shaft is provided with a cam which upon each rotation at a speed of 10 R. P. M. foroesinward the plunger pin 2| :to effect the actuation of the flush valve. A restoring spring 22 returns the plunger pin. 2| after each operation of the flush valve. It will be understood that the motor operator I0 is rigidly supported upon the flush valve 5 by the coupling nut I6 in the same manner and location as the usual manually operated handle and that the construction and operation of the flush valve per se has not been altered in any manner. 4

Since the motor operator I 0 is spaced from the wall surface I, it isvnecessary to provide a conduit connection for the electrical wires 23 leading to the coil winding I8 of the motor. This conduit comprises a short nipple 26 cut to the right length, one end of which is clamped by nuts 21 to the wall plate 28 covering the conduit box 29. Wall plate 28 is fastened as by screws 30 (see Fig -1) to the conduit box 29, as is well known, so that the conduit nipple 26 is securely supported in the approximate correct position with respect to the location of the motor operator [0. The electric motor wires 23 are spliced as at 3| in the conduit box 29 to the control wires passing into the box from the conduit 32 located-behind the wall surface 1. Atthefront orright-hand'end of the motor operator a cup-shaped enclosing member 35 is arranged which is clamped between the front motor bracket and coupling member 15. At the opposite end, a second similar cup-shaped enclosing member 36 is removably supported upon a U-shaped bracket 3! as by a single screw 39 passing through the cup member 36 and threaded at 38 into the bracket 31. Between the two cup members and 36 an enclosing casing is clamped when screw 39 is threaded in place. An overlapping shoulder 43 on the cups 35 and 36 serves to hold the casing 40 in position. This casing 40 completely surrounds the motor operator I!) to protect the same, except for a slot 41 formed in the rear side thereof. The slot M is so arranged that when the casing 40 is slid onto the motor operator, the conduit nipple 26 readily fits into the slot regardless 'ofany slight variations in the location of the nipple 26 with respect to the position of the motor operator and its 1 wires 23. The slot 4| is sufficiently wide and long enough so that the nipple does not have to be positioned exactly correct on the wall plate 28 with respect to the casing slot, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

order to cover upthe portions of the slot M notoccupied by the nipple 2 6 and to present a finished appearance to the'casinga cover plate 42 having a hole 43' therein is provided which is slipped over the nipple 26 and arranged on the outsiderear surface of'the casing. On opposite sides of this cover plate 42, clamping nuts 43 are provided-on the nipple zfi for rigidlyclamping the .plate '82 and casing 40 together after the casing-is slid into position on the motor operator. The hole 43 isnot centrally located on coverplate 42, but 'ofiset' to provide a relative wide surface and narrow surface 45 (see Fig. 4) on each side of the hole 43, so .thatthe-cover plate can be placed onthe conduitnipple with the narrowsurface 45 on either end of the casing slot 41, in order to cover the exposed portion of th'e slot when the roughing-in of the conduit isslig'htly off-centenhorizontally. This is illustrated elearly in Fig. .3. With the casing '40 in place upon the motor operator, theoutside clamp nut *243 on the nipple '26 is turned down upon the cover plate '52, thereby firmly holding the casing in :place. The end cup member 35 is "then tightly cl-amped onto'the bracketii'l by screw 39 and the complete unit is thereby completely enclosed and rendered substantially tamperproof. The device, .it is noted, is rigidly supported in position by "the coupling nut H5: upon the. ii-lush valve '5 and at another point :by the clamping nuts 43 upon the conduit nipple 2 6. nut 43 being arranged on the rear-of the motor operatorfas viewed in Fig. 1', it is not visible or accessible (to persons who may attempt to tamper with the internal motor mechanism. In the event it is 'desirous'of inspecting the motor operator il 'for the purposes-oi checking its "operation orfor'lubr-icating the gear train [9 and cam 23, the-clamping. nut 43 t is ifi-rst backed off the cover plate 42' on :the conduit nipple '26. Then the screw 39 :isremovedafterwhich the end-cup member 36 isgtaken'off. Theacasing 40 can then be. laterally slid. ed the motor operator. The motor operator consequently remains suspended uponithe flush valve and the'motc-r wires 23; and nipple .2.6 remain undisturbed.

What is claimed is: r

1; In a mounting arrangement foran-ele'ctric device for periodically operating a flush valve, both, being spacedapart and mounted closely adjacent a wall surface, said flush valve'having a water supply pipe and said electric device a short rigid wire enclosing conduit extending engaged by said wire enclosing conduit whereby is removed'to expose said electric device, said slotted portionbein'g elongated to allow for variations in the relative spacing of said flush valve pipe and said wire enclosing conduit.

2. In a mounting arrangement for an electric device arranged to periodically operate a flush valve both being spaced apart and mounted closely adjacent a wall surface, said flush valve having a water supply pipe and said electric device a short rigid wire enclosing conduit extending through openings in said wall surface, coupling means on one end of said electric device for rigidly supporting said electric device upon said flush valve, an enclosing casing for said electric device, means on the other end of said electric device from said flush valve for supporting said casing on said electric device, said casing having a slotted portion on one end thereof for accommodation of said electric wire conduit, means for clamping said conduit to said casing slot, said casing adapted to be-sli'd laterally from said electric device to provide access to the same without disconnecting the electric device from the flush valve, said slotted portion being elongatedto-allow for variations in the relative spac-. ing of said flush valve pipe and said wire enclosing conduit.

3. In a mounting arrangement for an electric device arranged to operate a flush valve, both being spaced apart and mounted closely adjacent a wall surface said flush valve having a Water supply pipe and said electric device a wire enclosing conduit extending through openings in said wall surface, coupling means on one endo'f said electric device for rigidly supporting said electric device upon said flush valve, a cup-shaped enclosing member attached to each end of said electric device and an enclosing casing clamped therebetween, said. enclosing casing having aslot formed therein adjacentthe supported end of the casing to which said electric wire enclosing conduit.is. .attached, said slotted portion being-elongated toallowforvariations in'the relative spacing of said flush valve pipe and said wire enclos ingv conduit; and a coverplatetfor said-casing slot attached to said electric conduit: arranged .tocompensate'for'variations in theposition of s'aidjelectric conduit, with respect to said water supply pipe to cover the, portion of the casing slot not occupied by; said, rigid wire enclosing conduit-3.v

4. .In .a mounting arrangement for-an;-electric motor arranged to operate. a flush valve, both beingv spaced apart and mounted closely adjacent a wall-surface said flushvalve having a watersupply pipe and said-electric device a wire enclosing conduit extending through openingsin said wall surface coupling means, on. one end, of said motor for rigidly. supporting the, motor. upon-said flush valve, said, motor including a mounting frame "and a'motor winding supported upon "the same; a U shaped' bracket attached to thefmo't'or frameand surrounding the motor windinga cupshaped enclosing member attached to one end of said motor frame, a second cup-shaped member attached to said bracket, and an enclosing casing for the motor clamped between both of said cup-shaped members, said enclosing casing having a slot for-med therein, said slotted portion being elongated to allow for variations in the relative spacing of said flush valve pipe and said wire enclosing conduit means for attaching the electric conduit to said casing slot including a cover plate over said slot, said cover plate also being arranged to cover the portion of said casing slot not occupied by said rigid wire enclosing conduit, said enclosing casing adapted to be laterally slid off of said motor when the second cupshaped enclosing member is removed from said bracket whereby said motor is exposed without removing it from said coupling means on the flush valve or disconnecting the electric conduit wires.

5. In a mounting arrangement for an electric device arranged to operate a flush valve, both being spaced apart and mounted closely adjacent a wall surface said flush valve having a water supply pipe and said electric device a wire enclosing conduit extending through openings in said wall surface; a coupling means on one end of said electric device for rigidly supporting the same upon said flush valve, said electric device having side frame members and separate brackets across the front end and rear ends thereof, a

front cup-shaped enclosing member clamped to,

said front bracket by said coupling means, a rear cup-shaped enclosing member clamped to said rear bracket, an enclosing member for said electric device held in position thereon between the lips of said cup-shaped members, said enclosing member having a slot on one end thereof, said wire enclosing conduit extending from said wall surface and through the slot in said enclosing casing, said slotted portion being elongated to allow'for variations in the relative spacing of said flush valve pipe and said wire enclosing conduit, means for clamping said wire enclosing conduit rigidly to said enclosing casing, and a cover plate on said conduit connection covering said slot and clamped to said enclosing casing, said cover plate having an offset opening therein for said wire enclosing conduit and arranged to cover said slot irrespective of variation in the position of said wire enclosing conduit and said slot.

JACQUES J. FILLIUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,941,596 Burke Jan. 2, 1934 2,145,446 Johnson Jan. 31, 1939 2,388,990 Nelson Nov. 13, 1945 2,456,084 Ray Dec. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 400,483 Great Britain M Oct. 26, 1933 

